Nifty Nicola

Nicola Roberts, of Girls Aloud fame, launched her own range of cosmetics a good few years ago now (I want to say 2008) and created a stir in the industry. Dainty Doll was formulated especially for us ladies of a whiter-than-white complexion, when the lightest foundation/powder/concealer just wouldn’t do. Initially developed as one of those “Girls-Aloud-go-do-things-they’ve-always-wanted-to-do” programmes, it was launched onto the mass market and was available through retailers such as ASOS.

Now for a while I’ve been trying to track some of this down. It seemed to have disappeared off the face of the planet and even from sites where you could normally buy. On ASOS there’s now only one product out of a whole range available, in the sale at 50% off. What the hell is going on?

Well, a recent press release seems to have cleared this question up for me. Dainty Doll is being re-launched (or are they just forgetting about the range that’s been around for a good few years?) this month exclusively in Harrods. The packaging is slicker, completely black with a red-head model oozing femininity and shouting out to you that she’s pale and proud. The range is more extensive, including foundation, concealer, powder, blush, lipstick, lipgloss, eyeshadow and base, and considering it’s being sold exclusively in Harrods isn’t that pricey at between £11 and £19.

I’m confused though – why are they talking about this as if it’s completely new? Am I missing something?

A NOTE FROM NICOLA: “I am proud and excited to reveal my new makeup line, Dainty Doll, developed especially to enhance the beauty of fairer skin tones. Created using the finest quality, skin-loving formulas to help cover, perfect and care for your skin, my new Dainty Doll range makes it much easier for those with paler skin tones to achieve the ideal shade every time.”

This is all very well, and I am excited to try, but it’s been done already! I can’t wait to get my hands on the products and give you a proper review, but until then this is all the information I have. And if you fancy meeting Nicola herself (she’s very lovely, extremely shy and not intimidatingly pretty) then pop down to Harrods where she’ll be making a personal appearance to launch her ‘new’ range at midday on 24th August.

UPDATE: I’ve had an update from the PR company representing Dainty Doll. Basically Nicola has been able to spend a lot of time being involved in developing a new range, perfecting the formulations and extending the products/shades on offer. The ‘new’ Dainty Doll is produced by a completely new company who are behind the Girls Aloud lashes from Eylure, so continuing the successful collaboration. So, in fact, this is completely new! Even more reason to try it…

They are relaunching the line, it will also go on asos.com at the end of september but harrods have the first exclusive. Also there are new items in the range which is prob why they are making it sound 'new'.I am going down to the launch as i run a nicola site, check it out for information on the new products and prices.